"This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance," said Banks of opening the new school. He comes to Fort Bend from the Aldine Independent School District, where he was principal for two years at Nimitz Ninth Grade School.

The high-tech building cost $33.7 million to build, but educators haven't forgotten the past. The school's mascot is the buffalo, in honor of the Buffalo Soldiers, a cavalry group formed after the Civil War that included black soldiers, Banks said.

"It was the first true diversity initiative by the American government," Banks said. "Soldiering was the first full-time job given to blacks after slavery."

"That's what this school is all about, diversity and addressing everyone's needs. It's an attempt to make history that has not been taught, recognized and appreciated."

The school's namesake is the first black U.S. Supreme Court justice. Marshall served on the court for 24 years.

Banks is enthusiastic about the response he has received from parents of incoming students.

"We have had a community advisory council set up, and they have been meeting every three weeks since November," said Banks, who was assistant principal at Willowridge High School earlier in his 16-year educational career and who is starting his sixth year in the Fort Bend district. "Our parents have a lot of input in this school. We have great support, a big PTO program we just established and I believe we have a good relationship."

People with technical backgrounds helped write the curriculum, build programs and recruit instructors for the engineering academies, he said.

For example, GIS is a technology-based course of study, said Banks, that involves plotting data to a map.

"It can be as simple as researching Web sites or dealing with a satellite," he said. "Geographic Information Systems help corporations or individuals make important decision based on data, i.e., survey property or track a satellite. We have companies supporting us in this initiative."

Banks said he has never had the opportunity to open a high school before, but is enjoying the challenge.

"There are so many things you do as a one-time thing," he said. "This is the only time to do this."

Banks moved into the 350,000-square foot building on July 25, his 49th birthday. The most exciting part, he said, has been being able to pick and choose his staff.

"For the past 13 months," he said, "I have been able to select a teaching team. I have the most talented team available. I am so privileged to have a team like I have. We have some talented people at this new school."

With his team of 70 teachers, Banks has high expectations when it comes to ratings in the district. Total staff is about 100.

"One of the main goals is to tackle what I consider is our biggest challenge -- freshman algebra," he said.

The school will become rated as the best in the district in that category, he predicted.

"We do not want to be -- we will be -- No. 1. We're going to work hard and we're going to get there," he said.

Banks plans to be visible to the students.

"If I am not in meetings in the mornings," he said, "then I will be in 10 classrooms by lunchtime. I like the kids to know who I am. I like talking to them.

"Our motto is `Equity, quality and excellence,' " he said. "Our vision is that every student must be successful in every classroom every day."

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